Wednesday, July 7, 2010

I thought I had just about covered all of the French Embassy in Ottawa until I recalled this phot I had taken of these bronze doors in the upper floor Gallery overlooking the Entrance Hall.

There are two sets of these monumental doors in the Gallery featuring four different decorative discs created by Robert Cami.

The first door representing Remembrance features a stylised young woman holding a dove and a banner carrying the words "Je me souviens", Quebec's motto, "I remember". It also includes a nun representing the church and a WWI French soldier in the trenches greeting a Canadian soldier arriving to help the war effort.

Faith on the second door depicts the evangelisation of the Great North of Canada incuding Bishop Gabriel Breynat, a key figure at the time, lumberjacks, trappers and farmers at work and missionary work with the Eskimo population.

Family is preented in the form of an early settler working the land while armed to protect his family, a young woman surrounded by many children and an old seaman telling a story of Canada's history to a group of children.

Finally, Work references the wealth of Canadian agriculture and industry with depictions of a miner, an architect, a young woman holding wheat and fruits, a buffalo, a foundry, agricultural labour and hunting in Winter.

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MELBOURNE ART DECO
In 2009 Robin Grow published a book on Melbourne Art Deco, with images largely supplied by David Thompson. The book quickly sold out and he is pleased to say that it has now been re-published by Brolga Press, with updates, errors corrected and a new cover.

Best of all, it is selling for about $25 in the shops and on-line. Art Deco & Modernism Society members can purchase a copy from me for $22, (includes postage within Australia). For overseas orders please email for postage rates. Contact me at robingrow@ozemail.com.au if you are interested, and advise if you would like the book to be dedicated and/or signed.